The Victorians thought they were too. If it wasn't on facebook, I mean if you didn't get a summit barometer reading the ascent might as well not have happened ;

The Victorians thought they were too. If it wasn't on facebook, I mean if you didn't get a summit barometer reading the ascent might as well not have happened ;) In all seriousness the wave of alpine exploration from the 1800s on was responsible for dispelling myths such as dragons living in the mountains. It was very much linked to a scientific worldview. My generalization is broad as I typed it on a mobile. There is a lot more subtlety to all of this for sure. I guess I meant in my experience of caving the emphasis is on getting there and back alive without damaging any pretty bits. Contrast rock climbing where people take significant risks in order to avoid "cheating". To some extent the latter ethic has transferred into modern Alpinism also which is why I referred to historic ethics. Cavers won't take quite the same support team of servants to get somewhere, though cave divers often rope a buddy or two into carrying their gear.